Got salt?

[ryecoon]

I need all of your votes on what salt brands give you the best results for an SPS dominant tank. What do you use? and id like to see what your Corals look like.

 

[StikHedRon]

I would base my salt choice off the parameters it mixes too and try and match it to my tanks params. I like to keep my alk at 7.5-8dkh, so buying a salt that mixes to 11 wouldn't make sense to me. I chose tropic Marin bio-actif

 

[Mallard]

I would base my salt choice off the parameters it mixes too and try and match it to my tanks params. I like to keep my alk at 7.5-8dkh, so buying a salt that mixes to 11 wouldn't make sense to me. I chose tropic Marin bio-actif

+1 I was using Red Sea Coral Pro and I really liked it but have since switched to ESV so that I have total control over my parameters. RSCP just mixed too high, good for a lot of tanks but difficult to keep your parameters stable in a SPS tank.

 

[redfishbluefish]

If you have a decent amount of hard corals (and/or a clam), salt alone is not going to maintain your alk and calc levels. Therefore I don't look at my salt to supply these....in fact I find the "super" salts to be a detriment to a constant level of alk and calc in my tank. Any of these super salts have too much alk and or calc, temporarily throwing my numbers out of wack for a day or two. Therefore I use ocean water for my water changes....that is, I use Instant Ocean, and maintain my alk and calc with dosing. My tank is rock solid stable, without swings in alk and calc.

 

[ryecoon]

Ok so lower level one part salts with dosers?

 

[mike007]

I have been experimenting with Tropic Marin salt. So far I love It but I still have to dose due to the sps bio load. I was using rsps but I did not like that It doesn't dissolve
as quickly as I would like.

 

[Mallard]

As already stated, if you have a heavy load of hard corals, you'll be good to consider dosing. Some people use Reef Crystals or IO and dose to the right parameters. Others such as myself get salt that matches the parameters we want to keep the tank at. And dose based on demand to keep it there. There isn't a "best" salt for everyone.

 

[ryecoon]

has anyone worked with Kent Marine Salt?

 

[jayhawk]

If considering Red Sea think about the standard salt and not Pro. It's easy to dose to get calibrated with display water but you can't reduce the levels that Pro offers. IMO, Pro is too high but the standard is good...for my system at least.

 

[ryecoon]

Hmmm?

 

[StikHedRon]

Me personally would see that level of Calcium and run away, I like to keep my aquarium parameters balanced and the fact that they don't state the DKH level concerns me. For me Unknowns are not something I like to experiment with.

 

[ryecoon]

thanks what salt do you use and should i go with a lower calcium level?

 

[Mallard]

I personally think that instead of looking for the best salt, ask yourself a few questions. What levels do you want to keep? Why at those levels? What are your goals with the tank? Are you looking for cheap? Fast mixing time? Convenience? Answer those and then find a salt that fits those criteria. Every salt mix you'll find a successful tank that uses it.

 

[ryecoon]

Ok so since ive been using this salt my parameters fluctuating. I bought a Doser but havent hooked it up yet. Ive been trying to get more control and start with the lowest dose possible. I trying to introduce some SPS corals but before doing so i want to make sure my parameters stay consistent. currently my Parameters are:

PH: 8.2
Alk: 8
Cal: 420
Nitrate: 0
Phos: 0
Mag: 1200
Salinity: 1.023

The ph and alk were much lower before i added kalk reactor.

My goal is to keep Calcium in the 500 range and mag in the 1300s. yes, i want good salt with more quantity and quality for a decent price. i run thru this 50 Gal. Kent salt in 2 weeks. This is about $50 a jug. So I'd rather spend more on dosing bottles than Salt jugs.